Machine for making ribbed strips for insoles



Feb. 28, 1950 A. s. CLARK MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 A. s. CLARK 2,498,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES Feb. 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 jnvenior Alfred S Clark Feb. 28, 1950 A. s. CLARK 2,498,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES Filed Dec. 11, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet s fn'venzar d Q'Mi mddtlarh t 5; his Afforng Feb. 28, 1950 A. s. CLARK 2,498,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES Filed Dec. 11, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 illfillllllllllllllllllllllllllliIlllllflllllfllllllllilllll flag .5470 4 EH/Z Feb. 28, 1950 Filed D90. 11. 1948 A. s. CLARK 2,498,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nvenzor Alfred 5. Clark Patentecl Feb. 28, 1950.

MACHINE FOR- MAKING RIBBED STRIPS FOR INSOLES Alfred S. Clark, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 11, 1948, SerialNo. 64,785

- 39 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of insoles and, more particularly, to machines for making composite ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon. The invention is illustrated herein with particular reference to the manufacture of ribbed strips of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,458,500, granted January 11, 1949, on an application filed in the names of Frederic E. Bertrand and Alfred S. Clark. A machine of the general type referred to is illustrated in a copending application Serial No. 761,890 filed July 18, 1947 in applicants name.

In the manufacture of welt shoes, the insole is provided around its margin with an upstanding rib to which the shoe upper is lasted and the upper and welt stitched prior to the attachment of the outsole to the welt. The sewing ribs on such insoles have usually been formedin the past from material integral with the insole provided by channeling the marginal portion thereof to provide a channel flap or lip which was subsequently raised to form the sewing rib. When the insole is extremely thin, however, it cannot be channeled to form the sewing rib and, accordingly, the rib must be provided from separate material attached to the insole margin and shaped to form the rib. While some of these ribs are formed while they are being applied to the insole, many of them are constructed or preformed separate from the insole and are applied thereto during the manufacture of the insole or the shoe.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for making ribbed strips of the preformed type referred to adapted to be attached to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon.

To this end, the invention, as herein illustrated, provides an improved machine for making composite ribbed strips for insoles which is provided with means for operating upon a plurality of cement-coated strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib thereon with a flange or flanges projecting laterally from the base of said rib, the machine being alsovprovided with means for supplying a plurality of strips of indefinite length to the operating means, and with means for withdrawing the strip from the supplying means and moving them continuously and at a substantial speed past said operating means. As illustrated herein, the operating means comprises mechanism for guiding a pair of strips in superimposed relation to each other and for folding the upper strip progressively during movement of the strips through the machine to form a two-ply layer relatively to the lower strip while maintaining said lower strip in a substantially flat position. The machine further includes a member for guiding the folded or twoply layer onto the fiat strip in a predetermined position and for applying pressure to the twoply layer adjacent to the fold or crease therein to render the crease permanent and also to attach the two-ply layer to said lower strip through the cement on the strips. The operating means also includes further members for folding the lower strip around a portion of said two-ply layer during movement of the strips past said operating means to form a composite strip having a fourply rib portion, additional means being provided for separating the unfolded portions or margins. of the strips to form a flange or flanges on said rib portion, thereby completing the formation of the ribbed strip except for applying additional pressure thereto to conform the strip to the desired shape and for pressing the four-ply rib portion against one of said flanges to flatten the strip and thus permit it to be wound automatically upon a reel, this pressure also imparting a permanent inclination or angle to the rib. If desired,-meansmay be provided, in connection with the application of this additional pressure to the composite strip, forslashing or snipping one of the flanges of the strip to facilitate its attachment to an insole.

The illustrated machine, in accordance with a feature of the invention, is adapted to supply cement-coated strips of indefinite length continuously to said operating means but to stop automaticallywhen the supply of strips on the supplying means becomes too low or falls below a predetermined amount. As herein disclosed, the stopping means is controlled by the strips on the supplying means so that, when the supplyof either strip falls below a predetermined minimum, the stopping means automatically stops the machine, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the operator towatch the supplying means and rendering it impossible for the supply of strips to run out and make it necessary for the operator to thread new strips through the machine, an operation which takes considerable time and skill.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the machine is provided with mechanism for automatically winding the completed ribbed strip upon a reel, this mechanism, as herein illustrated, including means for automatically stopping the machine when the reel is' full or when the completed strip on the reel reaches a predetermined amount. 'As illustrated, the winding mechanism is arranged to pull the ribbed strip from the forming and feeding means under substantially uniform tension whether the reel is empty or full and is also arranged to distribute the strip substantially uniformly across the width of the reel. The winding mechanism is operated continuously by a friction clutch and, in accordance with still another feature of the invention, means is provided for automatically varying the power of the clutch to cause it to operate the winding mechanism in such a manner that the latter will apply substantial uniform tension to the strip as the diameter of the reel changes due to the windings of the strip thereon.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine embodying the present invention with the supporting column broken 011;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the lower portion of strip supplying mechanism, as seen at right angles in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the ribbed strip forming and feeding mechanisms of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a full size perspective view of the ribbed strip forming mechanisms shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the strips as they appear passing through mechanisms located at the intermediate portion of Fig. 5 with parts of said mechanisms operat= ing upon said strips;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective View of the composite ribbed strip as it appears passing through mechanisms located at the left of Fig. 5, with elements of the mechanisms shown operating upon the strip;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line IX-IX of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of ribbed strip forming and feeding rolls of the machine and a guide associated with said rolls;

Fig. 10a. is a perspective View of a modified form of ribbed strip forming and feeding rolls as viewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig.

10, the rolls being provided with means for slashing or snipping one of the flanges of the composite strip, a portion of the strip being shown after it has been operated upon by said rolls;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of ribbed strip compressing and feeding rolls and guide mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the operating portions of the rolls and guide mechanism of Fig. 11 operating upon the composite strip;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line XIIIX[II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line XVXV of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line of XVI-XVI of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line XVII- XVII of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section taken on the line XVIIIXVIII of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of one margin of an insole with the composite ribbed strip secured thereto.

The machine is supported by a vertical column or base 20 in which is mounted for heightwise adjustment a post 22 carrying at its upper end a horizontal table 2i, arranged to support means for operating upon a plurality of cement-coated tapes or strips of indefinite length which are to form the composite ribbed strip, the table also carrying means for supplying the strips to the operating means, and mechanism for moving the strips continuously and at a relatively high rate of speed past said operating means.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the means for supplying a plurality of strips of indefinite length to the operating means comprises an inclined arm 26 projecting upwardly toward the right from the rear wall of a rectangular bracket 28 rigidly se cured to the table by screws 30. At its upper end the arm 26 is provided with oppositely facing hubs 32, 34 (Fig. 2) and has secured therein by a set screw 36 a horizontal shaft 38. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 38 and bearing against the hubs 32, 34 are collars or spools All, 42 which respectively form cores for a pair of rolls of strip material A and B of indefinite length, the strip material preferably comprising fabric, such as canvas or Gem duck. The strip A, which forms the upper strip in the machine, is approximately of an inch wide and is coated on both sides with dry pressure-responsive cement while the strip B, which forms the lower strip, is approximately of an inch wide and is coated with pressure-responsive cement on its upper surface only so that its coated surface faces the upper strip A. The cement used on these strips is preferably neoprene although it might, if desired, consist of latex or other pressure-responsive cements comprising synthetic materials which will not cause permanent adhesion between two surfaces unless both surfaces are coated with the same cement in which case a substantially permanent bond is obtained between the cemented surfaces upon the application of pressure alone.

The rolls of strip material A and B are held on the shaft 38 under light tension by flanged collars 4-4 and sleeves 46 (Fig. 2) rotatably connected to the collars by screws 43 which enter annular grooves 5! in the collars and hold the two members together while permitting limited movement of the sleeves lengthwise of the collars. Springs 52 mounted in the sleeves it and bearing against the collars normally hold the sleeves outwardly on the shaft 33 against pins 54 in reduced ends formed on the shaft, thereby pressing the flanges of the collars l i lightly against the rolls A and B. The pins 54. are normally located in grooves 55 formed in the outer faces of the sleeves, thereby preventing the latter from turning on the shaft. A keyway 5-53 is provided in each sleeve fit whereby, when it is desired to remove one of the rolls A or B from the shaft 3 3 to permit a new roll of strip material to be mounted thereon, the sleeve may be pushed inwardly against the spring 52 and rotated to move the keyway 58 until it registers with the pin 5%, after which the assembly can he slid from the shaft to permit the removal of the used roll and the mounting of a new roll thereon. A snap ring as is provided in a groove in the shaft 33 for retaining each spool til, 42 on the shaft when the rolls A and B are removed therefrom.

The machine is driven by a motor 6d (Fig. 1)

7 mounted on a bracket 5| secured to the column 20, the motor, as herein shown, being a reduction gear motor running at a speed of approximately 350 R. P. M. The motor is controlled by a switch 62 mounted below the table 24 and connected. in any usual manner to an electric circuit.

Means is provided in the machine for automatically stopping the motor when the amount of strip material in either of the rolls A or B has diminished a predetermined amount, thereby making it impossible for the machine to continue operating after the amount of strip in either roll has fallen below a certain minimum so that it will not be necessary for the operator to thread a new strip through the operating instrumentalities of the machine each time a roll is changed. The automatic stopping means, as herein illustrated, comprises a normally closed micro-switch 64 (Fig. 1) fastened to the lower portion of the arm 26 and connected in the usual manner, through the switch 62, to the motor 60 so that when the micro-switch is opened the motor will stop. Pivotally mounted on a center 66 on the arm 26 (Fig. 2), above the micro-switch 54, is a pair of levers 68, the upper ends of which project outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and rest against the inner surfaces formed by the rolls of strip material A and B at points near the inner portions of the rolls.

The levers 68 are held lightly against the rolls by a spring I0 mounted in an opening in the arm 26 and encircling pins on the adjacent surfaces of the levers. The lower ends of the levers 68 turn inwardly and are arranged to engage the arm 26 to limit outward swinging movement of the levers. Slidably mounted in bosses I2 (Fig. 1) on the arm 26' is a rod I4, the lower end of which engages the micro-switch 64 and the upper end of which is threaded into a block 18 provided with oppositely inclined upper surfaces arranged to be engaged, respectively, by portions of the levers 68 adjacent to their pivot 66. When the strip material on either roll A or B has diminished beyond the upper end of either lever 68, that lever will drop outwardly about the pivot 66, thereby causing the lever to press downwardly against the inclined surface referred to and force the rod '14 downwardly against the micro-switch 64 to open said micro-switch. In this way, reduction of the strip material on either of the rolls A or B beyond a predetermined amount automatically stops the machine.

The strip material from the roll A, hereinafter referred to as the strip A, passes downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1, around a spool 18 and then extends inwardly toward the left into the operating mechanisms of the machine, this strip, as stated above, forming the upper strip in the machine. The strip material from the roll B, hereinafter referred to as the lower strip B, passes downwardly around a spool 80 and extends inwardly below the strip A into the operating mechanisms of the machine. The spools I8 and 80 are rotatably mounted in a small bracket 8| adjustably secured to a fixed arm 82 projecting downwardly toward the right from the arm 26.

The motor 60 is provided with a rear sprocket 84 connected by a chain 86 to a sprocket 88 (Figs. 1 and 8) rotatably mounted on the hub of a sprocket 90 which, in turn, is secured to a shaft 92 by a key 94. The shaft 92 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 28 by means of ball bearings 96, 98, pressed into openings in the bracket, and has fastened to its forward end by a nut I80 a flanged roll I02 shaped to operate upon the strips A and B in a manner to be hereinafter described, the

roll I02 also forming part of the means for drawing the strips from the supply rolls A and B on the spools 40, 42, and moving them continuously through the machine, the sprocket 88 being driven in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Theroll I02 cooperates with an upper roll I04 secured by a nut I 06 on the for ward end of a shaft I08 rotatably mounted in a casting H0 (Fig. 8) pivoted on the bracket 28 and forming a cover for the shaft I08, the shaft being rotatable in ball bearings II2, II4 pressed into openings in the opposite ends of the casting, as shown in Fig. 8. The shaft I08 is retained in the ball bearings by a nut II5 threaded onto the inner end of the shaft. The casting I I0 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 28 by means of pins I I6, I I8 (Fig. 4) secured by set screws in the inner end of the bracket, the forward end of the casting I I 0 being yieldingly supported by a compression spring I20 (Fig. 8) whereby the upper roll I04 may be moved manually toward or away from the roll I02 by an adjusting screw I22 threaded into an upper portion of the bracket 28 and secured in position by a nut I24.

The lower shaft 92 has a gear I26 secured thereon which mesheswith a gear I28 secured to the u per shaft I08, thereby causing the two shafts to rotate at equal speeds in opposite directions, the shaft 92, as indicated above, being rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the motor 60 so that the upper shaft I08 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Besides operating upon the strips A and B, the upper roll I04 also forms part of the mechanism for drawing the strips from the supply spools 40, 42 and moving them continuously past the operating mechanisms of the machine. Rotatably mounted on a stud I30 is an intermediate or idler gear I32 (Figs. 3 and 4) which meshes with the lower gear I 26 referred to and also with a gear I34 (Fig. 9) secured to a shaft I36 rotatably mounted in ball bearings I38 and I40 pressed into openings in the bracket 28, the shaft I36 having secured to its forward end a grooved roll I42 held on the shaft by a nut I43. The shaft I36 is retained in the ball bearings by a nut I45 threaded onto the inner end of the shaft. The idler gear I32 rotates the shaft I36 at the same speed and in the same counterclockwise direction as the shaft 92 is rotated. The roll I42 is shaped for operating upon the strips A and B and also for forming another part of the means for drawing the strips from the supply spools and moving them continuously through the machine.

.The roll I42 cooperates with an upper roll I44 secured by a nut I46 to the forward end of a shaft I48 rotatably mounted in a casting or cover plate I50 pivotally mounted by pins I52, I54 (Fig. 4) on the rear portion of the bracket 28. The shaft is rotatably mounted in the casting I50 by ball bearings I56, I58 pressed into openings in the casting, the shaft being retained in the castin by a nut I59. The shaft I48 has I a gear, I60 secured to its rear portion which meshes with the lower gear I34 and thereby rotates the shaft I48 at an equal speed and in an opposite direction to the shaft I36, that is, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, similarly to the shaft I 08. The casting I50 is yieldingly supported at its forward end by a compression spring I62 (Fig. 9) and may be adjusted manually about its pivots I52, I54 by an adjusting screw I64 in the bracket 28 to move the roll I44 toward or away from the roll I42, thereby determining the pressure to be exerted upon the strips by these rolls. The screw I 64 is lockedin adjusted position by a nut I66. The castings IIIJ, I50 are provided at the opposite sides of their forward ends with vertical surfaces which slide in vertical guideways (not shown) formed in the front wall of the bracket 28, thereby guiding the heightwise movement of the castings about their respective pivots when adjusting the rolls I04, I44 relatively to the lower rolls I02, I42.

The sprocket 90 which, as stated above, is fastened to the shaft 92 by the key 94, is connected by a chain I68 to winding or reeling mechanism, to be hereinafter described, for automatically winding the completed ribbed strip upon a reel. In order to permit the forming, pressing and feeding rolls of the machine and the reeling mechanism to be rotated manually by the operator to allow him initially to thread the strips A and B through the machine without also turning over the geared-down motor 60, which would be too heavy, the following arrangement is provided. The sprocket 80, as stated, is rotated continuously by the motor in a counterclockwise direction on the hub of the sprocket 90. The forward or lefthand surface of the sprocket 530, as viewed in Fig. 8, is provided with a plurality of inwardly inclined depressions or grooves I10, preferably four, which are concentric with the :axis of the shaft 92 and slant inwardly from the surface of the sprocket to a depth of approximately of an inch. The sprocket 88 is provided with a plurality of holes I13 corresponding to the grooves I10 in which are mounted spring-pressed plugs or plungers I12 backed up by springs III, the plungers being arranged to ride on the adjacent surface of the sprocket as the sprocket 80 is rotated by the motor and to slide down the inclined slots I10 until they reachthe deep ends thereof whereupon they will drive the sprocket 90 in a counterclockwise direction with the sprocket 88 and thus rotate the shaft 92 to which the sprocket 90 is keyed. Accordingly, the shaft 92 and roll I02 will be normally rotated by the motor in a counterclockwise direction through the arrangement just described. However, if it should be desired to rotate the rolls manually in order to thread new strips or tapes through the machine, to adjust the machine or for any other reason, the roll M l is provided in its forward surface with a pair. of

diametrically opposite holes (Fig. 3) into which a spanner wrench may be inserted to rotate the roll, shaft 92 and sprocket 90 manually and, through the gearing referred to, to rotate the other rolls and winding mechanism without also rotating the sprocket 88 or turning over the motor 63, the plugs I12 merely riding out of the inclined grooves I10 and dropping into the succeeding grooves as long as the shaft 92 is rotated.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, which illustrate means provided in the machine for operating progressively upon the strips A and B and forming them into a composite ribbed strip adapted to be attached to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon, the strips A and B pass respectively from the spools 18, 80 (Fig. 1) to the left into a folding member I10 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5-) and a horizontal guideway I18, (Fig. 4) the folding member I16 comprising a right-angle bracket secured by screws I00 to a supporting plate I82 adjustably secured to a lateral extension I8 1 of the bracket 28 by screws I80, the plate I82 having the guideway I13 formed in its upper surface for receiving the lower strip B and maintaining it in a flat position relatively to the upper strip A while the latter is folded progressively by the folding member H6. The plate I 82 carries a holddown finger I88 (Figs. 4 and 5) which extends over the guideway I13 below the strip A and maintains the lower strip B in a substantially flat position in the guideway. The folder I10 is provided on the inner side of its vertical wall, as viewed in Fig. 4, with three stationary folding elements I 90, I92 and I94 consisting of U-shaped wires or staples which diminish progressively in size from a wide staple I to a narrow staple I00, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The strip A is initially threaded through the staples in the folder I16 so that it is bent over into a substantially U-shaped formation, which, as the strip moves through the narrow staple I94, bends the folds of the strip nearly together to form a two-ply layer above the lower strip B. The inner side of the vertical wall of the folder I16 is provided with a rearwardly projecting rib or fin I96 located centrally of the openings in the staples and tapering downwardly to a thin end adjacent to the narrow staple I94, this rib assisting in folding the strip A to form a doubledover or two-ply layer above the lower strip B but holding the two plies separated from each other until they leave the folder I10. The lower portion of the vertical wall of the folder I16 is cut back or recessed about i% of an inch, as in dicated by numeral I90 in Figs. 4 and 5, to permitthe forward edge of the lower layer of the two-ply strip A to project forwardly that distance beyond the edge of the upper layer of said two-ply strip. The lower strip B, as stated, passes in a substantially fiat position below the strip A in the guideway I10. As indicated above, the strips A and B are drawn continuously and in unison from the supply rolls on the spools 30, 42 by the power-operated rolls I42, I54 and I02, I00 and are moved uninterruptedly and at a considerable speed past the operating means of the machine, the first of which comprises the stationary folder I16.

The folded strip A passes from the folder I16 into a guide 200 provided with a downwardly curved slot or guideway 20I (Fig. 3) which directs the two-ply strip A downwardly toward the lower strip B traveling in the slot I18, the strip A being located by the guideway 21H in a predetermined position widthwise or laterally of said lower strip B. The guide 200 is adjustably secured to the supporting plate I82 by a screw 202 and has rotatably mounted therein, on a pin 204, a roll 206 located above the two-ply strip and having an enlarged inner portion of sufficient diameter to apply substantial pressure to the crease formed in the folded strip A while applying little or no pressure to the forward portions of said two-ply layer but merely preventing these portions from lifting out of their folded position. The enlarged inner portion of the roll 206 is knurled to cause it to be rotated by friction as the strips pass thereunder (Figs. 5 and 6).

The strips then pass toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and the inner edge of the lower strip B is engaged first by a plate 201 and then by a folder 208 adjustably secured to the inner portion of the supporting plate I 82 by a binding screw 209 and adjusted by a, thumb screw 210, the folder having a forwardly projecting finger 252 which is curved to the left and shaped, as shown in Fig. 6, in a manner to engage the inner margin of the strip B and fold it progressively over and around the inner portion of the two-ply layer of the upper strip A (Fig. 6), thereby covering a substantial portion-of the 9 two-ply layer to form a four-ply layer which, as will later appear, forms the rib portion of the completed strip.

The folded or composite strip also passes under a, roll 2I4 located opposite the finger 2I2 and rotatable on a screw 2I6 threaded into an upstanding ear 2II provided on a plate 2I8 secured by screws 226 to the supporting plate I82. As illustrated in Figs. 4, and '7, the roll 2I4 is a stepped or shouldered roll having three different diameters for overlying the different thicknesses of the folded strips, the roll acting as a holddown rather than a pressing member to prevent the folded strips from bobbing up and down as they pass at a substantial speed past the finger 2 I 2, the speed of the strips being substantially 60 feet per minute.

After leaving the roll 2 I4, the four-ply rib portion of the composite strip adjacent to the upper edge of the slot I18, as viewed in Fig. 4, passes under a holddown plate 222 adjustably secured to the supporting plate I82 by screws 224, the forward edge 225 of the plate slanting rear'wardly at its left-hand portion and being beveled as illustrated in Fig. '7. Opposite the plate 222 is a frusto-conical roll 226 which is rotatable on a vertical pin 228 secured in an L-shaped projection (Fig. 5) on a plate 230 adjus-tably secured to the supporting plate by a screw 232. The roll 226 is adapted to enter between the plies of the two-ply layer formed by the upper strip A, as shown in Fig. '7, and, as the com-posite strip moves toward the left, is arranged to bend the upper ply of said two-ply layer upwardly at a. substantial angle to the remainder of the strip, the roll 226 rotating by friction as the strips pass by. The guideway I18 in the supporting plate terminates adjacent to the frusto-conical roll 226 and the four-ply rib portion of the composite strip is thus free to move out of its horizontal position and, due to a guide just beyond the plate 222 (presently to be described), the rib portion of the strip is twisted downwardly about 90 soon after the strip leaves the roll 226 so that, when the strip passes the left-hand end of the plate 222, the rib portion projects downwardly in a substantially vertical position, as illustrated in Fig. '7, with the single upturned ply referred to engaging the beveled surface 225 of the plate 222, the opposite or forward portions of the strips extending forwardly and downwardly at an inclined angle, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7.

With the folded strips in the position indicated, they pass further toward the left, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and move under a finger 234 secured by a screw 236 to the left-hand end of the plate I82 and serving to hold the composite strip downwardly in its path of movement as it passes rapidly toward the forming and feeding rolls of the machine. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the finger 234 slants toward the left as it extends inwardly over the strips so that its operating end is relatively close to the feeding and forming rolls I42, I44. The composite strip is turned bodily 90, as described above, by entering a gage 238 (Figs. 3, 5 and provided with a vertical slot 246 for receiving the rib portion of the strip, the gage being secured to the bracket 28 by a screw 242. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10, the upper end of the gage 238 has a sharply beveled outer edge 244 which extends upwardly close to the base of the four-ply rib portion of the strip and over which the unbent margins of the lower ply of the two-ply layer A and the lower strip B, which underlies this margin and extends a 10 I substantial distance beyond, are now bent, as illustrated in Fig. 5, into a sharply acute angle relatively to the adjacent rib portion, thereby locating these two plies of the composite strip in a position, or at an angle, which will lead them properly into the bight of the forming and feeding rolls I42, I44. The other or bent ply of the two-ply layer of the upper strip A which, as indicated above, had already been bent into a substantial angle relatively to the four-ply rib portion will, when the rib enters the slot 240 in the gage 238, lie approximately fiat on a horizontal surface 246 provided on the gage inwardly of the slot 240 and a little higher than the beveled surface 244 so that this portion of the strip will thus be in a horizontal position to move forwardly between the knurled cylindrical inner portions of the rolls I42 and- I44. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the lower roll I 42 has a circumferential groove 248 formed therein adapted to receive the fourply rib portion of the composite strip as it leaves the gage 238. The relatively high speed at which the strip moves through the machine renders the gage 238, the holddown members, the rolls and the fingers previously referred to necessary in order to permit the composite ribbed strip to be formed continuously at this rate of speed without causing excessive heating of any of the operating instrumentalities of the machine due to friction and thereby soften the cement on the strips and cause it to be scraped off by anyof the stationary operating members and thus caused to pile up or accumulate thereon. In other words, the holddown finger I88 (Fig. 4), the roll 2I4 of diiferent diameters, the frustoconical roll 226, the finger 234 and the gage 238 are all necessary and essential in the operations of folding, forming and pressing the two strips together up to the point where they enter the forming and feeding rolls I42, I44, in a case such as the present where cement-coated strips are moving continuously or uninterruptedly through the machine at a speed approximating 60 feet per minute.

As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the lower roll I42 is knurled on its inner portion and has a sharply inclined bevel at its outer periphery forwardly of the groove 248. The upper roll I44 has a cylindrical inner portion which is also knurled to create traction and thus cause the rolls to grip the stripsand feed them continuously through the machine, the roll I44 having an outer flange inclined outwardly at an angle which corresponds to the angle of the beveled portion of the lower roll I 42 so that the two plies of the composite strip above referred to, that is, one layer of the two-ply strip A, and the single ply of the lower strip B, which now underlies said ply and extends a considerable distance beyond it, will be bent downwardly at a sharply acute angle to the four-ply rib portion of the composite strip while the opposite or inwardly turned layer of said twoply layer A will be pressed into a substantially horizontal position by the knurled portions of the rolls I 42, I44. As indicated above, pressure between the rolls I42, I44 may be controlled by adjusting the upper roll I44 through the screw I64 so that sufficient pressure will be exerted upon the composite strip to form it into the desired shape as it passes between the rolls.

The rolls I02, I04, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 11 and 12, receive the composite strip from the feeding and forming rolls I42, I44, and act progressively upon the strip to press the four-ply rib firmly against the two-ply flange portion above referred to, that is, the lateral portion formed by one ply of the two-ply upper strip A and the portion of the lower strip B which engages such portion and extends a substantial distance beyond the edge thereof, this flange portion, in the completed strip, forming an inner flange on the rib and being adapted to extend inwardly over a relatively wide portion of the insole to provide a wide reinforcement for the insole while also insuring a permanent attachment of the ribbed strip to the surface of the insole. The rolls I02, I04, therefore, operate to press the rib against the two-ply inner flange to flatten the ribbed strip, and they also act as feeding means, additional to the rolls I42, I44, to assist in drawing the strips A and B from the supply spools 4D, 42 and moving them continuously and at the relatively high speed referred to past the operating mechanisms described above.

In addition to flattening the ribbed strip and assisting in feeding it uninterruptedly through the machine, the rolls I02, I04 are also arranged to apply relatively heavy pressure to the upper portion of the four-ply rib permanently to crease the folds formed therein and to compress said upper portion so that, in the finished strip, it will taper upwardly to a relatively narrow upper end, the shape of the completed strip being illustrated in Fig. 19 as it will appear when attached to the marginal portion of an insole. The rolls I I12, I 64 are rotated continuously at the same speed as the rolls I42, I44 by the gearing and associated mechanism already described.

Before the composite strip enters the rolls I02, I64, it passes through a guide member 25!] (Figs. 3, 11 and 12) adiustably secured by a screw 252 in a vertical slot 253 formed in the front wall of the bracket 28, the guide serving to position the composite strip, hereinafter designated as a whole by the letter C, relatively to the compressing and feeding rolls I02, I04, and also folding the twoply inner flange over upon the four-ply rib portion, as shown in Fig. 12, before the strip enters the rolls. The guide 255, as illustrated in Fig. 11, comprises an L-shaped bracket extending forwardly of the rolls I42, I04, and provided with a guideway 254 into which the strip passes, the forward edge of the guideway being formed by an adjustable plate 255 secured by screws to the bracket 25!]. The bracket 250 also supports a plate 256 adjustably secured in a transverse guideway formed in the bracket 250 so that the plate may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the rolls. The plate 255 is provided with a finger 258 which extends toward the left closely adjacent to the inner side of the roll I04, as shown in Fig. 11, and which, before the roll, projects forwardly of the inner surface thereof so that the finger will engage the folded edge of the two-ply flange referred to, as illustrated in Fig. 12, and hold this edge forwardly of the sharp peripheral edge of the inner face of the roll, thereby preventing this edge from indenting or cutting the folded edge of the strip while nevertheless allowing the beveled portion of the roll to apply relatively heavy pressure to the folded portion of the strip. An enlarged portion or flange 259 on the lower roll IIJ2 applies heavy pressure to the top portion of the four-ply rib as shown in Figs. 8 and 12.

It is sometimes desirable to slash or snip the outer flange or feather portion of the ribbed strip C substantially at right angles to the edge thereof in order to facilitate the attachment of the strip to the insole, the cuts in the flange permitting it to expand or contract when being laid around curved portions of the insole margin and thus cause the flange to lie flat on the surface of the insole. The cuts or slashes may be spaced different distances apart along the outer portion of the flange according to the preference of the manufacturer or the type of insole to receive the ribbed strip, and they may likewise vary in length widthwise of the flange according to the desire of the manufacturer or the type of insole to which the strip is to be attached. As illustrated in Fig. 10a, a ribbed strip forming and feeding roll I44 may be substituted for the regular forming roll I44 (Fig. 10) and a roll I42 substituted for the lower roll I42, the rolls shown in Fig. 10a being viewed from the opposite direction to those of Fig. 10. The roll I44 is provided on its periphery of its cylindrical portion with a plurality of cutters or blades I45 and the cylindrical portion of the lower roll I42 is smooth rather than knurled to cooperate with the blades I45. The remaining portions of the two rolls I44 and I42 are substantially the same in construction as the rolls I44 and I42 of Fig. 10, the roll I44 having a beveled flange at its outer portion and the roll I42 having a corresponding bevel at its outer portion to cooperate with the beveled flange of the roll I44. The roll I44 also has an annular groove I48 therein for receiving the four-ply rib of the composite strip C. The composite strip will thus be shaped and formed by the rolls I44, I42 in the same manner that it was formed by the rolls I44, I42 but, in addition, the outer flange of the strip, formed by the original strip A, will have a series of transverse cuts or slashes S formed therein which will be spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the blades on the roll I44 and will be of a length, widthwise of the flange, depending upon the widths of the blades I45 transversely of the rolls or upon the position of these blades relatively to the lower roll I42. The lengths of the slashes S widthwise of the flange may be varied, for example, by constructing the roll I44 in two parts, the flanged outer portion being separate from the cylindrical inner portion, and then inserting spacing collars or washers between the two sections of the roll, thereby varying the position of the blades I45 transversely of the rolls and widthwise of the flange of the strip passing between the rolls. The upper roll I44 will preferably be adjusted toward the lower roll I42 so that the blades I45. just clear the cylindrical portion of the lower roll without striking such portion. The roll I42 will thus act as a support for the flange of the strip and will permit the blades I45 to cut into the supported material of the flange cleanly without leaving ragged edges, the cuts S extending almost through the flange but leaving a thin portion of the material still joined together which, when the strip is laid upon the margin of an insole, will separate readily to permit the flange to accommodate itself to the curves of the insole margin and thus lie flat against said margin. In the operation of the machine, the rolls I44, I42, if used, operate to snip or slash the outer flange of the ribbed strip continuously at predetermined intervals along the edge thereof but the cuts or slashes are so clean and sharp that they are practically invisible unless separated to permit the flange to expand or contract during the attachment of the ribbed strip to an insole, in which case the cuts separate under very little tension.

The composite ribbed strip C has now been folded, formed and pressedinto substantially the desired shape and it has also been compressed or flattened to permit the strip to be wound conveniently upon a reel, the compressing operation also imparting to the four-ply rib portion of the strip an inclination inwardly toward the inner flange of the strip-which will cause the rib to remain permanently inclined toward said inner flange at an angle of about 60 to the horizontal, as illustrated in Fig. 19. In other words, when the completed strip is applied to an insole, the flattened rib portion will react and assume a position which is permanently inclined toward the inner flange at an angle of approximately 60, thereby providing a definite groove or channel between the rib and inner flange into which the anvil of the stapling machine and the channel guide of the welting machine may be positioned during the lasting and inseaming operations upon the shoe.

After having been creased and compressed by the rolls 102, 104 into a relatively flat condition, the composite strip C passes beyond these rolls toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and is twisted again into a substantially vertical plane by a pair of grooved guiding rolls or spools 260, 262 rotatable about vertical pins 264, 266 mounted in a fixed bracket 268 bolted to the bracket 28, the strip passing from these spools into a guide member 210 (Figs. 1, 13 and 15) which conducts it onto a spool or reel 212 upon which it is automatically wound by the machine either for shipment or storage, or for immediate use in a machine adapted to attach the ribbed strip to insoles.

The guide 210 is mounted for forwardly and rearwardly reciprocating movement, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 15, on a horizontal transverse guideway 214 secured by screws to upstanding lugs 216 provided on the left-hand end of the table 24. The guide 210 comprises a hollow upper member or housing in which is rotatably mounted a pair of concave vertical spools 216 between which the flattened strip C passes after it leaves the guiding spools 260, 262. The upper member of the guide 210 is mounted upon a U-shaped carriage 218 having downwardly extending side walls which straddle the guideway 214 and each of which carries a pair of rolls 280 (Figs. 13, 15 and 18) which ride in horizontal slots 282 formed in the opposite sides of the guideway. The upper member of the guide 210 carries a pair of rigid arms 284, 286 which project toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 15, and which are adjustably secured to said upper member in any usual manner, the upper arm 284 having mounted on its forward end a horizontal grooved roll 288 and the lower arm carrying a grooved roll 290, as illustrated in Fig. 15. The upper roll 288 extends forwardly farther to the left than the roll 280 and is arranged to engage and ride on the spool or reel 212. As shown in Fig. 15, the axis of the upper roll 288 is located approximately in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the reel 212 when the reel is located in the position shown in Fig. 15, that is, when the reel is empty. Consequently, the point at which the strip passes between the grooved rolls 288 and 290 is somewhat below the axis of the reel 212. The rolls 288, 290 are grooved in a manner to guide the composite strip C onto the reel.

The strip C is arranged to pass through the guide 210 between the vertical spools 216 and then between the grooved horizontal rolls 288, 290, the strip then passing around the reel 212. The reel is provided with a radial slot 294 (Figs. 13 and 14 15) into which the leading end of the strip 0 may be inserted before the machine is started, thereby causing the end of the strip to become firmly secured to the reel by the cramping action of the reel after it has commenced to rotate.

The reel 212 is rotatably mounted on pins 298, 298 (Fig. 13) carried in the upper ends of two upstanding arms of a large yoked bracket 300 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a horizontal bracket 302 (Figs. 1, 14 and 15) bolted to the lower end of a depending wall 304 provided on the left-hand end of the table 24. The pin 296 in the inner or right-hand arm of the bracket 300, as viewed in Fig. 13, carries a sprocket 306 on its forward end, the pin projecting forwardly beyond the sprocket to support the reel 212. The pin is rotatably held in the inner arm of the bracket 300 by the sprocket 306 fixed thereto and by a collar 308 pinned to the rearward end of the pin. The left-hand side of the sprocket 306 is provided with a large flange or disk 309 integral with the sprocket and having means thereon such as a dowel or driving pin 311 for engaging an opening in the adjacent end of the reel 212 to cause it to rotate with the sprocket. The sprocket is connected by a chain 310 to a lower sprocket 312 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) fastened to one element 314 of a multiple-disk friction clutch presently to be described.

As indicated above, the yoked bracket 300 is pivoted for swinging movement toward and away from the table 24 about. a horizontal axis carried by the bracket 302. This axis, as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, comprises a flanged shaft or stud 316 secured by a draw-bolt 318 in a boss 320 on the bracket 302, the stud being provided with a hexagonal head 322 whereby it may be turned into different positions of rotation in the boss 320. The stud 316 supports the forward end of the yoked bracket 300 and, between the bracket and a flange 324 on the stud is a torsion spring 326, one end of which extends into an opening in the bracket and the other end of which enters a slot in the flange 324, this spring normally holding the bracket 300 in an upstanding position in Which the reel 212 bears lightly against the upper roll 288 of the guide 210, as shown in Fig. 15. The torsion spring 326 acts to counterbalance the weight of the yoked bracket 300 and the parts carried thereby and thus prevents the bracket from swinging outwardly toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 15, away from the roll 288 on the guide 210, the spring being adjusted to the proper tension by releasing the drawbolt 318 and turning the stud 316 in the boss 320.

The inner end of the yoked bracket 300 is pivoted on a horizontal shaft 328 (Fig. 14') rotatably mounted in the boss 320, in a central boss 330 on the bracket 302 and, at its rearward end, in a boss 332 on the bracket 302, the inner end of the shaft 328 having a thrust bearing 334 secured thereto which bears against a cap or cover plate 336 secured to the boss 332 and taking endwise or axial thrust of the shaft 328.

Returning to the means for rotatably supporting the reel 212 on the arms of the yoked bracket 300, the pin 296 on the inner arm, as stated, is rotatably held in said arm by the sprocket 306 and by the collar 308 secured to the inner end of the pin 296. The pin 298 in the forward arm of the bracket 300 (Figs. 1 and 13) is secured in a slide 338 mounted in a T-shaped guideway 340 formed in the upper end of said arm, the pin being retained in the slide by a flange 342 formed on its inner end and by a collar 344 pinned to its forward end. As shown in Fig. 13, the pin 298 projects inwardly beyond the flange 342 to receive the reel H2 and a large disk 345, similar to the disk 309, is mounted to rotate freely on the pin between the flange 3 12 and the reel 212, the disks forming in effect end walls for the reel.

In order to permit quick removal and replacement of reels in the winding mechanism, the slide 338 is arranged to be moved in and out in the guideway Mil by a lever 346 (Figs. 1 and 13') pivoted on a pin 348 mounted in the bracket 3% and pivotally connected to the slide by a pin 358-, the lower end of the lever carrying a springpressed plunger 352 adapted to be received in either one of two spaced holes i formed in the arm of the bracket 30S and arranged to hold the slide 338 and pin 298 in either an inner operative position, as shown in Fig. 13, or an outer retracted position to permit the reel to be readily removed from the bracket 30B and a new reel mounted thereon.

The reel 212 is rotated in a manner. to draw or pull the composite strip C from the guide 216 with substantially uniform tension whether the reel is empty, as in Fig. 13, or is substantially full, that is to say, as full as is permitted by the mechanisms of the machine, the amount of strip Wound upon the reel being determined automatically by the machine through mechanism later to be described. The sprocket 306, as stated, is connected by the chain SID to the sprocket 3E2 fastened by screws to a driven element 314 of the multiple disk clutch (Fig. 14), the member 3M being secured to the shaft 328 by a taper pin 356. The other element of the clutch comprises a plate 358 secured by screws to a sprocket 36B rotatably mounted on the shaft 328 and provided with oppositely extending hubs on the forward one of which is mounted a, plurality of friction plates or disks 362, the disks thus being located between the two clutch elements 3M and 358' and being normally pressed together under spring pressure as will presently be described. One-half of the disks 352 are connected to the hub of the sprocket 366 by projections on the disks located in a keyway 361 (Fig. 14) formed in said. hub and the other half of the disks are connected to the. clutch member 3M through projections on the peripheries of the disks which enter a spline 363- formed in the rim of the member 3M, this being i the conventional construction of a multiple disk clutch and the friction thus obtained between the clutch elements 358, 3H! under spring pressure being sufficient. to drive the machine. The

sprocket 369 is connected by the chain 1.68 previi ously mentioned (Figs. 1, 8 and 15) to the sprocket 93 which is keyed to the shaft 92 and by means of which-the motor 66', through the chain 86 and sprocket, 88', drives the. shaft 532 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The arrangement of the clutch members is such that the disks 362' are normally pressed into engagement with each other with suflicient initial pressure to rotate the shaft 328 and, through is sprockets tit and tilt, to rotate the reel 212 when the latter is empty, as shown in Figs. 13 and 15. The spring pressure on the. clutch is provided by the following arrangement. The rear arm of the bracket has a lateral projection 3% formed at its lower end (Figs. 1,14 and I6). Pivotaliy mounted on a vertical pinfilt (Fig. 13) in the bracket is a yoked lever 373 which straddles the rearward hub of the loose sprocket.

and is provided.- with rol-ls 38%, 382 which ride.-

upon the adjacent. surface of the sprocket 36.9..

The lever 378 has a cylindrical end 384' which is bored to receive a plunger 386 backed by a spring 338 and carrying a roll 390 on its inner end, the roll engaging the adjacent surface of the projection 354. The plunger is retained in the lever M8 by a screw 392 extending into an elongated slot in the plunger. The tension of the spring 358 may be controlled by an adjusting screw 394 provided on its inner end with a flange or disk tell for engaging the spring. The spring 388 is tensioned initially by the screw 395 an amount sufficient to drive the clutch and rotate the reel 212 when the latter is empty, the driving member 366 of the clutch being rotated by the motor faster than the driven member 3 14, thereby creating the friction required torotate the shaft 328 in accordance with the usual slipping clutch principle when the ribbed strip is being wound upon the reel 212. The spring 388 is tensioned initially to provide whatever driving force is necessary in the clutch to rotate the shaft 328 and, through the connections described, to rotate the reel 272 when the latter is empty as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 15.

It will be obvious, however, that as the amount of ribbed strip C increases on the reel Bill, the diameter of the reel with the material thereon will increase in size- Accordingly, more force will be required to rotate the reel because of this increased diameter or, in other words, because of the reduced leverage between the axis of the reel. 21% and the rolls 238, 290 of the guide m. It is particularly desirable in the present machine to have the reel in exert a substantially uniform tension or pull upon the ribbed strip whether the reel is empty or full. Accordingly, in order to accomplish this result, more pressure is exerted against the clutch, as the reel grows larger in diameter, to cause the clutch to exert a greater force to rotate the shaft 328 and, through it, the reel.

Increased pressure upon the clutch, as the reel 2'52: grows larger in diameter, is obtained bythe following arrangement. The lateral projection 36% on the bracket 33!] (Figs- 1,. 14 and 16) has a cam 35% mounted thereon which, as illustrated in Fig. 1?, is pivoted. on the projection for angular adjustment whereby the angle of the cam may be made greater or smaller, as desired. The cam is pivoted on a pin 388 secured in the lower end of the projection 364 and is pivotally connected above this pivot to, a screw 31B threaded through the projection and provided with a nut 3T2. Threaded through the projection above the screw are is a screw 314 which engages the cam 38% and adjusts its angular position relatively to the projection 36 1. In order to adjust the cam the nut 3'12 is loosened and the screw 314 adjusted to move the cam into the desired angular position, after. which the nut 312 is tightened to lock the cam in such position. The operating face of. the cam is inclined inwardly from top to bottom, as shown in Fig. 17.

By the foregoing construction, when the bracket 38d swings outwardly or toward the left, as viewedin Fig. 15, dueto the increased diameter of the reel 212 which, as stated above, remains in engagement with the roll 288 of the guide 210, the projection 35 i and cam 365 swing downwardly to force the plunger 386 forwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 14, to swing the lever 318 forwardly about its pivot Sit and. press the rolls 386i, 332 more forcibly against the sprocket 3% which, as illustrated in. Fig. 14,. is mounted for limited movement axially of. the. shaft 328,

17 thereby applying increased pressure to the disks 362 and additional driving power to the clutch. Since the surface of the cam 360 is inclined outwardly from bottom to top, the increased pressure to the clutch is applied gradually as the bracket 300 swings further outwardly relatively to the guide roll 288, that is, as the diameter of the reel increases in size due to the material thereon. The arrangement is such that the clutch will drive the sprocket 3 I 2 and, through it, the reel 212 with a force sufficient to cause the reel to exert a substantially uniform tension on the ribbed strip C as it pulls the strip from the guide rolls 280, 290 whether the reel is empty or substantially full. As stated, the torsion spring 320 may be adjusted to maintain the bracket 300 in a position to hold the reel against the guide roll 288, irrespective of the angular position of the bracket.

It is desirable in winding the flattened strip C upon the reel 212 to distribute the strip evenly across the width of the reel. To this end, means is provided for oscillating the guide 210 forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, or from right to left and vice versa, as viewed in Fig. 13, so that the successive layers of the strip on the reel will be distributed substantially uniformly across the full width thereof. Referring to Fig. 14, the shaft 328 has a worm gear 396 pinned thereto which meshes with a worm wheel 400 (Figs. 13 and 15) pinned to a shaft 402 journaled in the bracket 302 and located above and at rightangles to the shaft 328. Pinned to the opposite end of the shaft 402, as seen in Fig. 15, is a cam 404 which is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, by the mechanism just described when the shaft 328 is rotated by the clutch, the cam having a heart-shaped track 400 formed therein. Rotatably mounted in the bracket 302, below but parallel to the shaft 402, is a shaft 408. On its right-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 15, the shaft 408 has a lever 4l0 pinned thereto which carries a roll 4 I 2 at its upper end arranged to ride in a vertical slot 414 formed in the adjacent face of the guide 210, as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 18. The lever 4|0 also carries a roll M6 on its lower portion which rides in the heart-shaped cam track 406 of the'cam 404. Rotation of the cam in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, causes the lever M0 to reciprocate the guide slowly back and forth on the guideway 214, thereby causing the guide to distribute the ribbed strip C substantially uniformly across the width of the reel 212. The arrangement is such that the cam 404 reciprocates the guide 210 forwardly and rearwardly a distance approximately equal to the width of the reel 212 between the disks 309, 345 located at the opposite ends of the reel. Moreover, the heart-shaped cam 404 reciprocates the guide 210 at such a speed relatively to the rotation of the reel 212 that the guide will space successive windings of the strip C properly on the reel and will dwell a short period at opposite ends of the reel before starting to move in the opposite direction, thereby distributing the strip substantially uniformly across the width of the reel. The ratio between the reciprocating movement of the guide 210 and the rotation of the reel is determined bythe number of teeth on the lower sprocket 360, the reciprocation of the guide being fixed by reason of the cam 404 and the gearing which rotates the cam. Consequently, if it should be desired to increase or decrease the spacing of the windings of the strip on the reel, for example,

-.because of a wider or narrower strip beingwound.

the sprocket 360 can be changed for one having more or fewer teeth thereon and thereby change the rate of rotation of the reel relatively to the reciprocation of the guide 210. Fig. 13 shows the lever M0 at the right-hand limit of its swinging movement but indicates in broken lines the position of this lever when it reaches the opposite end of its swinging movement.

The cam 404 is provided with an extension 4l8 (Figs. 13 and 15) located opposite the point on the cam track 406 where the roll 4 l6 stops movement of the lever M0 in a right-hand direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, and starts movement of this lever in the opposite direction, this extension having an inwardly facing surface 420 thereon correspondin substantially in shape to the portion of the *cam track 406 opposite to said surface. A roll 422 mounted on the lower portion of the lever 4l0 rides onto this surface 420 and thus causes the cam 404 to reverse the movement of the lever M0 at the right-hand end of its swinging movement, at which portion the cam track 406 in the cam 404 is larger than the roll 4|G due to difficulties in machining the cam track 406 in a cam as small as the cam 404, this construction, therefore, facilitating the manufacture of the cam 404 and forming, in effect, a conjugate cam which is stronger and more effective in operation than it would be without the lateral extension It is desirable in the present machine to wind the flattened ribbed strip C upon the reel 212 until the reel is as full as practicable and then to stop the machine automatically to permit the operator to remove the reel from the winding mechanism and to mount a new reel therein, the term full being used figuratively herein to denote the amount of strip desired on each reel rather than that the reel is actually full. The stop "mechanism comprises a pair of micro-switches 424, 426 (Fig. 13) connected in multiple-through the main switch 62 to the electric circuit which operates the motor so that both 'micro-switches must be open at the same time in orderto shut off the electric power and stop the machine. The micro-switch 424 is secured by screws to the depending wall 304 previously referred to on the table 24 in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 13 with a spring-pressed finger or switch 428 projecting therefrom in a position to be engaged and depressed by a lug 430 on the lever 4l0 when this lever reaches the left-hand end of its swinging movement, as viewed in Fig. 13. Accordingly, each time the lever 4l0 reaches the end of the forward movement imparted to it by the cam 404, the micro-switch 424 is automatically opened and, when the lever starts moving in the opposite or right-hand direction, the micro-switch returns to its normall closed position.

The forward arm of the bracket 300 extends downwardly below the stud 31B and, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 13 and 14, has a fan-shaped projection 432 formed thereon to the inner side of which is adjustably secured by screws 434, a segmental cam 436 having an operating face which is inclined rearwardly from right to left, as Viewed in Fig. 1. The inclined surface of the cam 436 is in a position to engage a springpressed pin or switch 438 (Fig. 13) on the microswitch 426, the low portion of the cam permitting the micro-switch to remain closed. When the bracket 300 swings outwardly or toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 15, due to the increased diameter of the reel 212 as the windings of the 76 ribbed strip 0 multiply thereon, the cam436 will be swung towardthe right or counterclockwise far enough to cause the high portion of the camtopress-thespringswitch 438 inwardly and thus open the micro-switch and cause' it to' remain open until the bracket'3fl0. has swung the cam 436: outwardly again far enough=to permit the micro-switch to close.

As pointed out above, the other micro-switch 424 isopened each time the lever M reaches the end of its forward swinging movement. C'onsequently, whenxthe reel 212 has received'enough of the ribbed strip. C to increase. the diameter of the reel sufficiently to cause the inclined cam 436to open themicro-switch 426, the reel has received. a sufficientamount of theribbed strip tov be regarded as full. Accordingly, upon. the next movement of the lever M0 to the end'of its travel. to the left, as seen in Fig. 13; the micro-switch 424 will be opened by. engagement of the. lug 4351 with the switch 428 and;.since the two micro-switches are: arranged in multiple,

'the' opening of both switches. atthe same time shuts off the current to the motor and stops the machine. In this way, the machine is brought automatically to-a stop. whenthe-ribbed strip on the reelreaches a, predetermined amount without attention on the part of the. operator. The amount of ribbed strip to be wound upon the reel can. becontrolled within reasonable limits by adjustment of the cam 435 on the fanshaped porjection. 432. It will be obvious" from the foregoing that, when the machine is automatically stopped by thewindingmechanism, the

machine will always stop with the guide 210 located at the forward or left-handend of the reel 212, as viewed inrFig. 13. This facilitates severing the strip-and attaching it to each new reel and also insures that the first layerof the stripto be wound upon each reelwill be a: full layer extending from the front end of the reel to the rear end thereof.

If the lever M0 should move-away from the Inicro-switchM i just before thecam 436 opens thelower micro-switch 426, the leVer'4-H) must, of course, travelits full distanceytoward the right and return again into engagement with the microswitch 424 to open the. latter before the machine will stop because, as stated, both micro-switches must be open at the same time to shutoff the motor. Consequently, the amount of ribbed strip wound upon successive reels may-vary. a little due to this circumstance, but. the, amount will: not vary more than two extra layers or windings which, for all practical purposes, would baconsidered substantially the. same because inactual practice the quantity of ribbed strip on the reel is usually measured by weight rather than by length in yards or feet and the'weights of two such reels would not differ enough to make any appreciable difference.

As already pointed out, the tension exerted on the composite stripC by the reel 2-12 in pulling it from the ribbed strip forming mechanisms is substantially the same at all times whether the diameter of the. reel is small or large, this being assured by the friction clutch which will slip morewhen the forcerequired to pull the strip along its path of movement becomes. greater. As the diameter of the reel increases throughthe additional. windings of the strip thereon, the forceynecessary to cause the reeltopull the ribbed strip from the guide 210' becomesprogressively greater, as statedabove, because of said increased diameterand the consequent;decreaseinleverage between the reel. and the. guide; rolls: 288,. 29.6..

' disks 362 of the clutch and. thus; increase the driving power of the clutch. The increased pressure to the-clutch, however, is merely sulficient" to overcome or offset the loss in leverage as: the diameter of the reel increases in size so that: the pull or tension on the strip itself is substantially the same, i. e., uniform, irrespective of? the sizeof the reel. Since the torsion spring 326' (Figs. 13 and 14) offsets the increasedweight of the bracket 300. and reel; 252: as the bracket swings. outwardly farther away from the guide 2'10, the clutch is not obliged to overcome the in creasing weight of the bracket as would be the case if thetorsionspring: 326 were not used. In other words, theadditional spring pressure applied to the clutch through the cam 36E merely has to overcome the decrease. inleverage due to the increasing diameter of the-reel'and material thereon and, in view of this, the increased pressure to beapplied to the clutch can be computated fairly accurately so that the pull or tension upon the strip C can be maintained substantially uniform whether the reel is small or large. This uniform tension avoids breaking the strip. or stretching it enough. to damage. it or cause it to lose the shape imparted to it by the strip forming instrumentalities.

The completed ribbed strip 0 is illustrated in section in Fig. 19 as it will appear when applied to the marginal portionof an insole D, the strip being positioned in the usual. manner a short distance inwardly from the edge face of the insole. As shown in that" figure, the completed strip has a four-ply rib E which slants inwardly atanangle of about 60 to the; horizontal. The rib E is composed of thefoldedtwo-ply portion of the upperstrip A (Fig; 1) and the lower strip B which. completely covers the. folded. two-ply portion. Onev margin of the strip A extends towardthe' left from the rib;toform a single-ply outer'flangeF which. overliesthe feather portion of the insole-and is. secured thereto by pressureresponsive cement on the insole and onthe lower surface of said flange. The outer flange or feather F is preferably about of an inch wide. The other margin ofthe strip A extends toward therightinFig. 19 and forms aninner flange G-onthe-strip, this inner flange being covered by aniinner portion H. of the original strip B which extends inwardly of the rib E, the portion H extending a substantial distance-inwardly beyond the: portion G to provide a wide reinforcement for the insole. The lower ply G of the inner flange is secured directly to the insole by the pressure-responsive cement on its lower surface (and on the margin of the insole) and the upper ply I-Iof said inner flange is secured to the ply Gby the cement on the upper, surface of the ply G and on the lower surface of. the ply H, the portion of the upper ply. E that extends inwardly. beyond the: ply G. being secured directly to the insole by the: cement on; the. insole and on the? lower; surface of the ply H. It will be observed in. Fig. 19, that the two-ply layer of the; originallstripA is: bonded firmly together down to the extreme lower end or base of. said two-ply-layer so thatzthe" opposite flanges F and Gare securedto the insole throughout their full widths with. practically no break or opening therebetween. Inyotherwords, nospace or-pocket is::created at thecenter-of. theubaseyof thefourply; rib: E2 WhBIEB the. strip; is not; bondedto the --21 insole and, consequently, there is no danger of the inseam stitches of the shoe passing completely under the rib E and acting as a lever during the subsequent wearing of the shoe to pry the rib away from the insole or weaken its connection thereto. The four-ply rib E, while stiff enough to serve as an abutment to which the shoe upper can be lasted and the upper and welt stitched, is nevertheless sufliciently flexible due to its construction, particularly, the relatively narrow upper portion'of the rib, to bend or flex widthwise about the center of'the base of the rib as a pivot during the lasting and inseaming operations, thereby preventing the rib from acting as a lever to pull either of the flange portions F or G away from the insole during these operations, as sometimes happens in other types of ribbed strips if the base portion of the rib is not bonded securely to the insole throughout its entire width, or if the rib itself istoo stiff the portion G and covers a substantial portion of the insole inwardly of the rib, not only provides'a wide reinforcement for the insole but seals the lower ply G against the insole and provides an additional width of strip secured directly to the insole, thereby strengthening the attachment of the entire strip to the insole and rendering it substantially permanent. As stated above, the inclination of the rib E inwardly at an angle of about 60 to the plane of the insole provides a definite groove or channel in which the anvil and channel guide of the welting machine may be located during the lasting and inseaming operations on the shoe, thereby insuring good lasting and inssamirig operations, the rib reacting and assuming this position from its flattened condition after the strip has been unreeled preparatory to its being applied to the insole. Since the entire bottom surface of the composite strip is coated with pressure-responsive cement, it may be attached to the insole by pressure alone, the marginal portion of the insole having been precoated with the same kind of cement or with a pressure-sensitive cement having an affinity for the cement used in making the ribbed strip.

It should be pointed out that the present machine, as illustrated herein, is sufficiently flexible or adaptable in its operation not only to make a ribbed strip C, such as that illustrated in Fig. 19, but'also, if desired, to produce a ribbed strip having a four-ply rib, a two-ply outer flange and a single-ply inner flange. That is to say, the machine, as constructed, is adapted with no alteration to produce a ribbed strip in which the ply G of the two-ply inner flange of Fig. 19

will be turned outwardly, instead of inwardly as illustrated, to form a two-ply outer flange GF and a wide single ply inner flange H. This can be readily accomplished merely by threading the strips A and B through the operating instrumentalities of the machine in' such a manner that the frusto-conical roll 226. (Figs. 3, 5 and 7) is caused to bend both layers ofthe two-ply upper strip A upwardly at an angle'to the remainder of the strip instead of turning only one of these plies upwardly as at present, after which the composite strip can pass through the remaining mechanisms of the machine, including the forming and compressing rolls, in the usual manner. The machine is'also. adapted to produce a ribbed strip having no outer flange or feather at all if this type of strip is desired. this being accomplished merely by inserting a flller piece (not shown) of predetermined thickness, for example, A, of an inch, in the folder I16 between the staples I90, I92 and I94, the filler piece resting upon the rib or fin I96 of the folder and being secured to the folder in any usual manner as by screws. The upper strip A is reduced in width from of an inch to of an inch and the strips are fed through the operating means of the machine in the manner already described'to produce a composite ribbed strip having an inwardly inclined four-ply rib and a two-ply inner flange the upper ply of which projects beyond the two-ply portion to reinforce the insole, as described above, but the strip having no outer flange or feather portion thereon corresponding to the flange F in Fig. 19. Moreover. a ribbedstrip having a narrower inner flange than that shown in Fig. 19 can be produced merely by inserting a fillerbar of proper width in the horizontal guideway I I8 in the table I82 and then using a narrower lower strip B, this type of ribbed strip being particularly advantageous in the manufacture of narrow or fiddle shank shoes in which it is desired that the inner flanges on the opposite portions of the strip located at the narrow shank portion of the insole do not overlap each other. Still another modification which might appeal to some manufacturers can be produced in the present machine by removing the frusto-conical roll 226 entirely from the machine, thereby causing the portion of the original upper strip A, which now forms the outer flange F, to be turned inwardly instead of outwardly so that it will underlie the present two-ply portion of the inner flange and thus produce a composite ribbed strip having a four-ply rib, no outer flange but an inner flange which is three plies thick adjacent to the rib and two plies thick inwardly of the three-ply portion, the inner flange terminating in a single ply inwardly or the two-ply portion. If it should be desired to provide a ribbed strip having a straight or vertical rib, instead of an inwardly inclined rib as shown in Fig. 19, the final compressing and feeding rolls I02, I04 could be removed from the machine, thereby causing the ribbed strip to remain in the condition it is in when itleaves the first set of rolls, namely, the forming and feeding rolls I42, I44, the strip at this time having the four-plyrib located substantially at right angles to its base or flange portion with the rib considerably looser or less compact than it is in the ribbed strip shown in Fig. 19. Other variations in the construction, shape or dimensions of the composite ribbed strip can be obtained in the present machine, if desired, by adjusting difierent parts of the operating mechanisms of the machine or by omitting them altogether, or

by threading strips of difierent widths through the operating mechanisms of the machine in different ways. It will be seen, therefore, that the illustrated machine is adapted to produce numerous variations of the ribbed strip illustrated in Fig. 19, without any substantial alteration in the operating instrumentalities of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for-- op-- erating upon a plurality of strips to form a com ply rib; with flanges projectin laterally irorn opposite sides of the base of said rib, spools for supplying strips of indefinite; length to said stationary means, and means. for withdrawing; the strips from said spools and moving them u i terruptedly past said stationary means,

3. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating upon a plurality of strips to form a; composite strip having a sewing rib thereon, andpQwer-operated means for moving said strips continuously past the operating means to'cause thelatter to operate progressively thereon.

4. A machinefor making ribbed-strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for oper ating upon a plurality of strips of indefinite length toform a composite strip having a rib thereon with flanges projecting laterally from the base of said rib, means for feeding said strips continuously past the operating means, means for supplying the strips to said operating andfeeding; means, and means for stopping the'operation of said feeding means before the supply of strips on the supplying means becomes exhausted.

5. A- machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provid sewing-ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating progressively upon a plurality of strips; or indefinite-length to form a composite ribbed strip having. flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the rib on said strip, poweroperated means for, moving the strips uninterruptedly past the operating means, means for supplying said strips continuously to said poweroperated means, and means for automatically stopping said power-operated means when the supply of strips, on the supplying means falls below. a. predetermined amount.

6. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, incombination, means for foldinga plurality of strips of indefinite'length to form a composite strip having a multi-ply rib thereon, means for supplying said strips to the folding means, means for feeding the strips continuously and at uniform speeds past saidfolding means, and means controlled by the strips for stopping the operation of said feeding means when any of the strips onsaid supplying'means diminishes a predetermined amount.

'7: A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachmentto insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means unison. from said rotatablemeans past saidnperating; means, and.- automatic means: for t pp n said: power-o erated. means. when; the supply, of

214 stripston; said rotatable means becomes. too: low, the operation or said automaticv meansbeing effected by the strips carried by said, rotatable means.

8. A machine for making ribbed: strips adapted for attachment toinsoles to: provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating. upon apair of stripsto form a composite strip having; a multi-ply rib projecting from a baseportion extending transversely of the rib, power-operated means for moving the strips. continuously past the operating means, spoolsfor supplying strips of indefinite length to said operating and; power-operated means, a micro-switch for'controlling th operation of said power operated means, and means controlled by the strips: for opening saidmicro-switch and stopping the operation of said power-operated means when the strips carried by said spools 'diminisha predetermined amount;

9. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having in combinatiommeans for operating upon a pair-of-. strips of indefinite length to form. a composite strip having a rib. thereon with flanges at opposite sides of the base of the rib, rotatable spools for supplying said strips to the; operating means, power-operated means for drawing the strips from said spools and moving them. continuously past the operating means, a micro-switch for: controlling th operation'of said power-operated means, and means engaging the strips onsaid spools, for opening the. micro-switch and; stopping" said power-operated: means when the-diameter ofthe stripson the spools diminish beyond a predetermined point;

10. A machine-for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles. to provide sewing ribs thereonhaving, incombination, stationary means; for; folding apairof strips of indefinite lengthto form a composite strip having a rib thereon, spools for supplying the strips to said foldingmeans, power operated means for pulling the strips. iromthe spools and moving them continuously past, said folding means, a. normally closed micro-switch for controlling the operation of said power-operated means, and means controlled by thestrip on either spool for'automatically opening the micro-switch and stopping said power-operated means when the supply of strip on. either spool falls below a predetermined amount.

11. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to. insolesto provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for operating upon a. pair of strips of indefinite length to form a. composite strip having a rib thereon, poweroperated means for'feeding said strips past the operating means, spools for supplying the strips to said: feeding and operating means, and means controlled by the strips on said spools for-automatically stopping said poweroperated means when the strip on either spool diminishes below a predetermined amount, said last-named means including a normally closed 'micro-switch, a pair. of leverspivotedon-an axis adjacent to said spools and-,respectively-engaging the windingsof the strip on the two spools,

resilient. means urging saidleversginto engagement1,withsaid 1 windings, and spring-pressed means extending betweensaid levers and said micro-switch.

l2.- Amachinefor makingribbed strips adapted for. attachment. to insoles; to provide sewing ribs thereon having; incombination;stationary'means operated means.

for operating upon a pair of strips to form a composite strip'having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving said strips in unison past said stationary means, a pair. of spools for supplying strips of indefinite length to said stationary and power-operated means, a normally closed microswitch for controlling the operation of said poweroperated means, a pair of levers pivoted on a common axis between said spools, each lever being arranged to engage the strip on the spool adjacent thereto, means urging said levers into engagement with the strip on its adjacent spool, and spring-pressed means between said levers and said micro-switch whereby when the strip on either spool diminishes below the end of the lever engaging said. strip, said lever will swing in a direction to move said spring-pressed means against the micro-switch to openthe latter and automatically stop the operation of said power- 13. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for operating upon a plurality of strips, of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips continuously past said operating means, and means for reeling the ribbed strip after it has been formed.

14. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating progressively upon a plurality of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib projecting therefrom, means for supplying said strips to said stationar means, power-operated means for drawing the strips continuously from the supplying meansand past said stationary means to permit thelatter to operate thereon, and means for winding the completed ribbed strip upon a reel as soon as it is formed.

15. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating upon a pair of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib projecting from a relatively flat base portion which extends beyond the side of the rib to provide a lateral flangethereon, spools for supplying said strips to said stationary means, means for withating progressively upon a pair of strips of in- 6 definite length to form a composite strip having a multi-ply rib thereon, freely rotatable spools for supplying said strips to the operating means, power-operated means for withdrawing the strips from the spools and moving them continuously past said operating means, said power-operated means operating constantly so that movement of the strips, past the operating means is uninterrupted, and means for winding the composite ribbed strip. upon a reel as soon as it is completed, said winding means being constructed and arranged to distribute the ribbed strip substantially uniformly on said reel.

, 1'7. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment. to insoles to provide sewing ribs.

26 thereon having, in combination, means for-opera ating upon a plurality of strips to form a com-. posite strip having a sewing rib thereon, spools for supplying strips of indefinite length to the operating means, means for withdrawing the strips from said spools and moving them continuously past the operating means, means for pressing against the ribbed strip temporarily to flatten the rib, and means for automatically winding thestrip upon a reel after the rib has been flattened.

18. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, stationary means for operating progressively upon a plurality of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a multi-ply rib with a flange project.- inglaterally from one side of the base of said rib, means for supplying said strips in superimposed relation to said stationary means,- means for moving said strips continuously from the supplying means past said stationary means to cause the latter to operate progressively thereon, rolls for flattening the rib against the flange on said strip, and means for winding the composite strip automatically upon a reel before the rib reacts and tends to return toward its original position.

19. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for oper ating upon a plurality of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips continuously past the operating means, spools for supplying the strips to said operating and power-operated means, constantly operating means for flattening the ribbed strip after it leaves said operating means, and means for winding the strip upon a reel after it has been fiattened, said winding means operating automatically to distribute the strip substantially uniformly across the full width of the reel.

20. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for folding and pressing a plurality of strips to form a composite strip having a rib thereon with flanges extending laterally from opposite sides of the base of said rib, means for moving the strips continuously and in unison past said folding and pressing means, and means for automatically reeling said strip after it has been formed, said means including a reel, mechanism for rotating said reel, means for guiding the strip onto the reel, and means for reciprocating the guiding 'means widthwise of the reel as the latter is rotated to distribute the strip uniformly thereon.

21. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for operating upon a plurality of strips to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips past the operating means, a reel, mechanism for rotating said reel to windthe strip thereon after it has been formed, guiding means located in substantially thesame horizontal plane as the axis of the reel, a slide carrying said guiding means, a guideway for said slide parallel to the axis of the reel, a pivoted lever having a roll thereon engaging said slide,

and means for oscillating said lever to reciprocate said guiding means relatively to the reel to distribute the strip substantially uniformly across,

the width of said reel.

22. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for operating upon a plurality of strips to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips continuously and in unison past the operating means, a reel, means for guiding the composite ribbed strip onto said reel, and means for rotating the reel to wind the strip automatically thereon, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to draw the strip from said power-operated means under substantially uniform tension whether the reel is empty or full.

23. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means-for operating, upon a plurality of strips to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, means for moving the strips past the operating means to cause the latter to operate thereon, a reel for receiving the composite ribbed strip after it has been formed, means for rotating said reel to wind the strip. thereon under substantially uniform tension Whether the reel is empty or full, said means including a clutch, and means for automatically increasing the driving force of said clutch as the amount of strip on the reel increases.

24. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thercon'having, in combination, stationary means for operating upon a plurality of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a :rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips past the operating means to cause the latter to operate progressively thereon, a reel, means reciprocating widthwise of the reel for guiding the completed ribbed strip onto said reel, and means for rotating said reel to wind the strip thcreonsaid means including a friction clutch and means for automatically increasing the friction of said clutch as the diameter of the reel increases due to additional windings of the strip hereon. r

, -25, A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, incombination, stationary means for folding av plurality of strips of indefinite length to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, power-operated means for moving the strips in, a predetermined path past said folding means to permit the latter to operate progressivel-y thereon, a bracket pivoted below said D mer-operated means, a reel rotatable on said bracket, means for rotating said reel to wind the ribbed strip. thereon after it has been formed, a guide. engaging the reel for guiding the ribbed strip onto said reel, said bracket swinging farther away from said guide as the diameter of the reel increases due. to additional windings of the strip thereon, and means acting upon said bracket for maintaining the reel in engagement with said guide irrespective of the diameter of said reel.

26. Amachine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for operatingupon a plurality of strips to form a composite strip having a rib thereon, means for supplying strips of indefinite length to the operating means, power-operated means for moving said strips continuously from the supplying means past said operating means, means for automatically stopping said power-operated means before the supply of strips on said supplying means becomes exhausted, and means for winding the composite ribbed strip upon a reel after it has been formed.-

'27. A machine for makingrribbed-strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination,stationary means foroperating upon a pair of strips to form acomposite strip having a multi-ply rib .thereon, spools for supplying strips of indefinite length to said stationary means, ipowereop-erated means for drawing the strips from said spools and moving them continuously past said stationary means .to permit the latter to operate progressively thereon, meanscon'trolled :by the strips for stopping said powereoperated means when the supply of strips on said spools falls below a predetermined amount, and means for winding the composite ribbed strip automatically upon a reel after it has been formed, said means being constructed and arranged to exert substantially uniform tension upon'the strip irrespective of the winding on the reel.

28. A machine for making ribbed strips adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, mechanism for moving a pair of strips of indefinit length continuously in superimposed relation to each other, a member for folding the upper strip during said movement to form a two-ply layer, means for positioning said two-ply layer upon the lower strip and pressing 'it thereon with the margins of said lower strip projecting in opposite directions beyond said two-ply layer, stationary means for folding one projecting. margin of. the lower strip overa portion of said twoply layer to cover said portion and form a composite strip having a four-ply portion, means for turning the upper ply of the uncovered portion of said two-ply layer upwardly relatively to said four ply portion, and means for progressively bending said upper ply and the adjacent portion of the lower ply of said two-ply layer in opposite directions to form flanges at the base of said four-ply portion, thereby forming a composite strip having a fourply rib thereon with flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of said rib, an. underlyi portion of said lower strip bending with said adjacent portion of said lower ply to provide a two ply flange at one side of the fourply rib.

29. A machine-for making ribbed strips adapted. for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon having, in combination, means for supplying a pair of cement-coated strips in superimposedrelation to each other, mechanism for moving the strips, continuously from the supplying means, a member for folding the upper strip upon itself during said movement to form a twoply layer, a guide and roll. memberfor positioning. the two-ply layer substantially medially of the lower strip and. pressing it thereon with the opposite margins, of said lower strip projecting beyond said two-ply layer, a stationary finger for folding one margin 'of said lower strip over a portion of the two-'plylayer to. cover said portion and produce a composite strip having a four-ply portion to forma rib, rotary means for turning the upper ply of the uncovered portion of said two-ply layer at'a substantial angle to the remainder ofthe composite strip, and a pluralityof rolls. for-progressively bending said upper ply and the portion of the other ply of said twoply layer and the projecting margin of the lower strip engaging said other ply in opposite directions and at acute angles relativelyt'o the fourply rib to form oppositely extendingfianges'thereon, said rolls also exertin a wiping pressure on said flanges during the bending opera-' 

